Sanford Speaks Out is the latest blog sensation written, edited and produced by Sanford D. Horn, a writer and educator. Sanford will write about issues of the day covering a myriad subjects: politics, education, culture, sports, religion and even food.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Kaepernick Sitting Stands for Disrespect

Kaepernick Sitting Stands for Disrespect

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

September 5, 2016

Ladies and gentlemen, please rise, and gentlemen, please
remove your caps as we honor America with the singing of our National Anthem.

We’ve heard this request countless times at sporting
events around this great nation, and whatever our collective gripes are
pertaining to the ills, perceived or not, of the United States, we comply with
this request. Does this make us mindless drones or thoughtless lemmings bowing
to a red, white, and blue cotton idol? Certainly not – especially those of the
American citizenry of the Jewish and Christian faiths who abide by the Ten
Commandments to have but one Deity – that of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob.

No, no – we the people honor this great nation for the
opportunities it has afforded us – opportunities – not guarantees –
opportunities to work hard and achieve our goals. We honor this nation by
giving back to it for the freedoms it affords us – and yes, that even includes
the freedom to speak out against this country.

One such outspoken figure, San Francisco 49ers
quarterback Colin Kaepernick has opted to sit during the playing and singing of
the Star Spangled Banner. That is his
right. That is his expression of the freedom of speech as outlined in the First
Amendment of the United States Constitution. A right that thousands upon
thousands of men and women have died protecting. A right that thousands of men
and women in uniform – be it the armed forces, police, and fire no longer have
the option to enjoy due to the debilitating and crippling injuries sustained
protecting Kaepernick’s right to express. A right replete with consequences such
as losing endorsements, being cut from the team should his personal choices
prove detrimental to the environment surrounding the 49ers, and having his
issues of concern overshadowed by his poor choices.

Millions of us will use our same First Amendment rights
of free speech and expression to call Kaepernick a recalcitrant, sanctimonious,
ungrateful malcontent; because he is just that and more. Fox News and Fox Business
reporter Dagen McDowell called Kaepernick “a hot, steaming bag of garbage.” And
that is her right in accordance with
the United States Constitution.

Kaepernick claims he is sitting out the National Anthem
as a way of garnering attention for issues of concern to him. Instead what
Kaepernick is doing is demonstrating disrespect for the symbol of the country
that affords him a great living as a professional athlete and disrespects every
man and woman that has worn the uniform of the United States past and present –
regardless of color; and color seems to be an issue with him.

“I am not going to stand up and show pride in a flag for
a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” said Kaepernick.

Black people and people of color are being oppressed?
Where? How? This is the country that elected a black president – an election
that could not have been won without support and votes of white people – votes cast
using a secret ballot. The current and most previous Attorney General of the
United States – black. The two people who served as Secretary of State in the
previous administration – black. Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, General Colin
Powell, and Condoleezza Rice all required approval via votes by an almost all
white United States Senate – and bipartisan at that.

Is there still racism and bigotry? Sure, there is, and it
probably will never be eviscerated. And when we begin to deny people the rights
guaranteed in the First Amendment – even Kaepernick’s right to be a pinhead, we
fail as a civilization.

I don’t approve of Kaepernick’s stand on sitting – I think
it diminishes his argument. He, as a professional athlete, has a fairly large
stage from which to opine – certainly the San
Francisco Chronicle would publish an op-ed from Colin Kaepernick sooner
than one penned by Colin Smith.

As for Kaepernick’s assertion that black people and
people of color are oppressed in this country, he may have a point, but he won’t
like the explanation, for it will damage his narrative. Blacks are oppressing
other blacks in this country – in the killing fields of the inner cities where
black on black crime, especially murder, is out of control and has been for
decades now. That’s oppression.

Blacks are oppressing other blacks in this country – in the
classrooms in those same cities. As an educator having taught in Elizabeth, NJ,
Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC, I have seen first-hand the disasters masquerading
as inner-city schools. A student who wants to succeed, go to college, make a
better life for him/herself is held back by those students who perpetually
disrupt classes, threaten students who dare to aspire to something beyond an
underserved neighborhood, and shorten the time on task by creating a need for
more time on discipline instead of on learning. It is frustrating for those
students who want to get ahead and it is frustrating for those teachers who
want to make a difference in the lives of those students. Far too often those
teachers leave inner-city schools for greener pastures or leave the teaching
profession altogether.

And with the dearth of education in far too many black
communities, comes more black oppression – the lack of employment
opportunities. For this form of oppression, blame the Democrat Party for their
incessant lack of support of school choice. The lack of legitimate employment
turns some people toward illegitimate employment that oftentimes leads to
prison or worse, the cemetery. When poorly educated black men are in prison,
single mothers are left to raise children on their own, prohibiting them from a
proper education and possible ascension up the employment ladder.

And because of the educational crisis, for decades there
has been affirmative action to assist people garnering acceptance into college.
This form of assistance is not oppression, Mr. Kaepernick. On the other hand, affirmative
action has been deleterious to minority communities. While it helps people get
into school, it does not help people remain in school in order to learn and
earn that coveted degree – and that is oppression.

That Barack Obama supports Kaepernick should surprise no
one. This is typical of Obama – when given the choice of two roads, he opts for
the road less patriotic. But at least Obama is consistent in continuing to walk
the path established for him by Saul Alinsky and his Rules for Radicals.

Kaepernick went on to say “I have great respect for the
men and women that have fought for this country.” Sitting during the National
Anthem hardly proves that respect.

No one I know thinks the United States is perfect. We all
take issue with something we believe could be improved upon in this country.
Yet, we support the concept of the United States “for which it stands, one
nation, under G-d, with liberty and justice for all.” We support the premise for
which the country was created – “to form a more perfect Union,” because it was
not perfect in 1787 when the Constitution was penned – the Bill of Rights soon
after amended that great document. It still wasn’t perfect then either in 1791
and an additional 17 amendments later, the most recent ratified in 1992, this
is still not a perfect Union. However, we the people continue to strive for a “more
perfect Union,” but we do it in a respectful manner, using our influences, our
appropriate forums, and our civilized forms of communication to garner sway
with our audiences.

For all of the pitfalls and foibles the United States may
have, it is still the greatest country on G-d’s planet. If Kaepernick feels so
oppressed here, good luck finding a less oppressing country to call home. The
NFL has already demonstrated its disrespect by remaining silent on Kaepernick’s
antics and by opposing the small decal with which the Dallas Cowboys wished to
adorn their helmets in memory of the five murdered police officers. (http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2016/08/nfl-throws-flag-on-dallas-decal.html)
The league will play its first Sunday slate of games this week on September 11 –
let’s see how disrespectful Colin Kaepernick will be.